Hey there, Vic here and I’m doing my damnedest to hold my tongue (or keyboard as the case may be) and not go into an f-bomb laced tirade here. It seems that my favorite target McDonald’s is back in the news and this time they’ve partnered with an organization I previously had some respect for.
Even though I’m not a fan of their point-counting method, I do believe their community aspect and group support meetings can be beneficial to weight loss success. And I’ve had personal training clients in the past who experienced some weight loss success using their methods (although these same clients often experienced a weight loss plateau which how they ended up requesting my services). The organization I’m speaking of is Weight Watchers, and a recent article revealed that they have partnered with McDonald’s and will be promoting the Fillet-O-Fish, Chilli Seared Chicken Wrap, and Chicken McNuggets as “healthy options” in New Zealand and Australia.
What the #@*&?
Let’s start this with taking a look at the ingredients of Chicken McNuggets:
White boneless chicken, water, food starch-modified, salt, seasoning [autolyzed yeast extract, salt, wheat starch, natural flavoring (botanical source), safflower oil, dextrose, citric acid], sodium phosphates, natural flavor (botanical source). Battered and breaded with: water, enriched flour (bleached wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), yellow corn flour, bleached wheat flour, food starch-modified, salt, leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, calcium lactate), spices, wheat starch, dextrose, corn starch. CONTAINS: WHEAT. Prepared in vegetable oil (Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness). Dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent.
Take a look at that last sentence again. . . Antifoaming agent? And I challenge anyone without a degree in chemistry or a national spelling-bee championship under their belt to pronounce dimethylpolysiloxane. Obviously there are several other ingredients that go against what I personally consider healthy (wheat flour, dextrose, corn flour, vegetable oil), but let’s take my predilection for sticking to lots of vegetables, some meat and fruit, and a small amount of nuts out of the equation for now and just focus on some good old “common knowledge”. . .
“Healthy Options” are NOT deep fried.
“Healthy Options” are NOT breaded.
“Healthty Options” do NOT challenge the pronunciation skills of the highly literate with their ingredient lists.
The bottom line is this – healthy options do not come from a drive-thru window. Healthy options usually don’t have any packaging (let alone ingredient lists). And healthy options can be just as fast as fast-food with a little pre-planning.
On general principal alone, no reputable weight loss organization should ever align itself with the fast food industry. I’m shocked at this move by Weight Watchers, and saddened when I think of how many of the uninformed will now believe Chicken McNuggets are “healthy”.
What are your thoughts on the pairing of Weight Watchers with McDonald’s? Let me know in the comments below.
Train Hard!
~ Vic
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One word Vic, “MONEY” what can we do, i talked my daughter out of eating McNuggets happy meals telling her that the meat included all sorts of parts of the chicken, lips, eyes etc, it worked for a few weeks but the lore of the free toy won in the end, now its a battle to get her anything else.
But back on topic, agreed, it is disgusting that weight watchers are doing this, especially to their members.
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Vic,
I noted you mentioned you were not a fan of the point counting method. In the Spring of 2011 I had to leave weight watcher’s. The point counting method was causing me to gain weight not lose it. Now, to find out they have paired with Micky D’s has me shaking my head. I have to agree that I think it’s a money (profit line) issue. It’s been very difficult for me to give up fast food. If I were in their program now, they’s be giving me a green light to go back to one of my addictions.
Glad I left their program now for two reasons, not just one.
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Hi Vic,
What can we say: Money, money, money make the world go round, but in this case, money makes your hip goes wide and your purse empty. You know at the end, it still stays the choice of the person who is willing to do that to themselves. You can give as much education as you want, but there is a saying: “You can lead a horse to the water, but you cannot make it drink.”
Since I started eating healthy, drinking more water / herbal teas and exercise, my energy levels have hop from zero to extra hours I never thought I had in a day.
Keep up the good work; it keeps people like me informed of what’s on, hot, new and exciting.
Lots of Blessings
Maggie
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well done for raising this Vic, last time I was in Maccas….(OK, it was a long highway trip and I was hungry, I weakened,) then the Fillet-o-Fish was being marketed as some ‘Blue Tick for a Healthy heart’ or some such. lets face it, Maccas is a huge company with massive turn over, they employ people, probably many people, probably whole advertising companies to do nothing else but dream up ‘positive product associations’ just like this, it doesn’t just happen by accident. Its crap but its real and its happening and shmucks will believe anything if it lets them eat whatever they want to and believe its OK.
Keep it up Vic,
David, Australia
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Victoria, England Reply:
January 12th, 2012 at 2:22 pm
A friend of mine in New Zealand, says that it’s cheaper to feed a family at four at Maccas than it is to buy fresh food at the supermarket due to the spiralling cost of food in the Oz and NZ, as in the UK, too. She says that people are buying chicken nuggets and then feeling guilty when it’s rammed down their thoats that it will cause them to get fat and people are getting so darned depressed that they are eating more and more that the government suggested that Maccas and Weight Watchers get together to promote certain Maccas food groups as healthy. Apparently WW are going to re-model (for want of a better word) the ingredients of these foods to make them “less” fattening and therefore can promote them as “health-ier” so we should be seeing nuggets and salad on the 80/20% principle ………interesting thought process. Spiralling food costs are a problem in the UK too but I prefer to buy end of day reduced fresh veg from the supermarket and make simple salads and soups for the cost of a happy meal over here £1.99 (consisting of 4 nuggets and chips).
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Miriam Reply:
January 13th, 2012 at 5:08 pm
well said
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Anyone who believes this ‘food’ is either living in a fools paradise or has not read ANYTHING related to food vs health.
Sure it requires a little organisation and discipline to eat healthly and to lose weight. I had tried many other ‘cures’ before trying Vics simple and straightforward approach which enabled my to loose 22lbs and more importantly keep it off.
Guys and Gals there are no ‘easy options’ but if you apply Vics common sense approach, you will be amazed what YOU can achieve.
Well done Vic, keep at em
Adrian
Lagos Portugal
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Horse ca-ca. There is no such thing as healthy fastfood. Shame on Weight Watchers!!
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Why doesn’t this surprise me. Bet Micky D’s stock shot up when this announcement was made.
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WOW – thats about all I can say – words cannot express…unless of course I use foul language
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Hey Vic, I know someone who has been on weight watchers for it seems like forever, but I never see a change in her weight. From what I see of their system doesn’t work very well in the first place. Now to add McDonald’s to their choices. Foolishness! I wouldn’t surprise me if weight watchers lost members with the move. There is doubt this is totally about the money because it sure isn’t about health or losing weight.
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Vic,
I agree totally and wish my wife would see things more my way. She says she feels so deprived when eating Fruits, Veggies, Meat, Eggs, and some nuts? She says her “Weight Watchers” works and that is what she is sticking too. I think she is actually at a stopping point and hasn’t lost any weight in over a month, but refuses to go total Primal with me. Any Ideas Vic?
Thanks,
Dan
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vicmagary Reply:
January 12th, 2012 at 8:10 am
Maybe try to convince her to just go one week and then compare the difference. Many people lose 5 pounds or more the first week – and seeing some results might convince her. But the reality is that people have to make up their own minds. We can inspire others with our actions, but motivation has to come from with in. Best of luck.
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Vic,
I agree with you wholeheartedly, but if you pull back the curtain, you’ll see the real reason Weight Watchers (WW) has made this move. Just like all the cookie-cutter diets being marketed today, WW has to continue to generate revenue. Returning members (customers) are a big part of that.
WW allows their members to eat whatever they want just as long as they stay within their points allocation. What that means is, their members never kick the food addictions that made them fat in the first place. So they continue to eat the same addicting foods, just smaller portions.
Partnering with McDonalds just proves (to me anyway) that they want their members on a never ending diet. The more return members, the more revenue they generate.
BTW, this indirectly helps the medical community, because as long as people are eating these junk foods, they’ll need medical attention sooner or later. Why do you think McDonalds has the Ronald McDonald House?
Sounds like a conspiracy, I know, but if cigarette companies knew that nicotine was addicting, what makes you think food and/or diet companies wouldn’t do the same? The only difference is we don’t have to smoke, but we do have to eat.
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Even scarier that WeightWatchers has been recommended as the number 1 recommended diet for 2012! It’s like everyone is searching for the magic pill, eat what you want and be fit and healthy. Sorry people it doesn’t work that way. Anything really worth having is worth working for!
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Vic-
Gotta say this doesn’t surprise me. Years ago I had an office and directly across from me was a weight watchers. I watched people come and go daily and for 6 months never saw much change. What I found disturbing was the lady that ran the place was overweight and she, herself never lost. I remember thinking that this is like getting help for alchoholism from a bar!
Bottom line is there is no real money in cures, only in treatment and it is sad to see companies like this that are supposed to help actually hurting people.
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Agreeing with you about McDonald’s (and you didn’t even mention the buns!), but not sure I want to go so far as to say there’s NO such thing as healthy fast food. I went to a Jamba Juice yesterday for the first time. That seems like a pretty good choice: they offer juices blended with whole fruits and veggies using a Vita Mix machines. Do you have any experience with/comment on Jamba Juice as a on-the-go alternative?
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Ray Reply:
January 13th, 2012 at 5:18 am
Do they have an ingredient brochure? If so, check to see how many grams of sugar their shakes contain and the actual serving size. Juice shakes are notorious for sugar content.
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Wow… the perfect partnership. Keeps them both going longer!
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i agre with you one hundred percent
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I used to volunteer at WW some years ago and, whilst I was able to achieve my weight goals within about 3 months, I saw many, many people continue to come and try and ‘trick’ the scales by wearing extra light clothing and going to the bathroom before weigh in, and remain the same weight or gain more whilst living with this false sense of security that they were actively doing something constructive. it seemed to me that they were paying for permission to maintain their food addictions without guilt. I did meet some very genuine and compassionate WW leaders during that time, however, who were not in it for the money because they weren’t being paid a lot!
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I really like the way you put it straightforward.
It is encouraging to read about an American who’s providing common sense to help people to take their helth in control.
Keep it going Vic and keep kicking some @%*
You could also add that nature is seldom filled with healthy food containers or wraps unlike fastfood or coffee cups.
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I acutally prefer my nuggets to foam, so I don’t know WHY they’d put that last ingredient in there.
Gross.
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I totally agree with you!
I had one bite of a big Mac in 1964 (really!) and threw it up. Never since. Occasionally when we are on the road we have stopped for bacon,egg and cheese biscuit. Makes a nice treat for the dog.
Fast food is Faux food. Keep up the good work!
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Dear Vic,
I leave in Greece and due to the crisis I have already seen and heard too many weird things from companies that are forced to live longer even by taking advantage of people, ”using”" them as slaves sometimes, but this partnership???? really???? I have never heard of! SHAME TO WW! Change their name to……Weight Gainers or better Brain Foolers!!! I am wondering if these people at WW, are seriously thinking that people in the US are brainless to simply think : Fast Food TOGETHER WITH Helthy & Diet food??? ARE THEY FOOLING US????
So u US people go ahead and BOICOT WW!!!! DO NOT LET THEM LIVE THEIR DREAM….TO GET RICHER, BY MAKING FELLOW CITIZENS POORER, UNHEALTHIER AND WITH THE LOWEST ENERGY!!!!! INFORM YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS AND ESPECIALLY CHILDREN WHO ARE GOING TO GET THE WRONG TRAINING OVER WHAT IS HEALTHY AND DIET FOOD………
MY BEST BEST WISHES!!!!!!
Oh Vic……I do not want to forget!!……I have ordered a few months ago your offer for your programs, advices, for the 90 days diet and achievement of perfect ABS, costing approximately 39$ but I have not received anything, except your mails……..Please check my order again if possible………THANX!!!!
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I’ve known plenty of people who have had good success on weight watchers and I know I lost a bit of weight with them too. I find it hard to belive that they would join in anything with McDonalds without a major overhaul on the menus there. As everyone else has said it most likely has to do with a large amount of money and money ultimately overcomes all in the business world anymore.
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I go to Maccas fairly regularly to get a coffee and that’s it. I look around and see countless overweight men women and seriously obese children filling their faces or walking out with multiple bags of burgers etc
Maybe Weight Watchers should make a short promotional video of the clients coming out of Macca’s. Maybe then they may think twice about promoting this type of food as healthy and assisting in weight loss !!
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Lying, cheating, manipulating, stealing. This is the new America in a nut shell. Since the Government is the world leader in these tatics we are in for one hell of a ride! Even what we eat is manipulated to fit a marketing agenda. I’m so proud!!!!!
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I think most of the crap I have read is just an anti WW cabal. I have been attsnding our local WW group in Elsternwick Vic (OZ) for nearly 2 years. I lost 18.5 kg and have been on maintenance for nearly a year. They saved my life. The support is great and K am sure that Macca would not be condoned. Anyhow we are adults and surely can dis ern for ourselves what is good for us.
Keep it up WW!
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This is horrible! Read this and you’ll know why I say this. http://imfathelpme.com/2011/11/fast-food-is-making-us-fat/
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Vic!
Gotta love big corporations. Once they get big enough they run on image. Of course they need a product too… even if it’s not good for you. This is a public relations promotion for both companies and I would describe it as “putting lipstick on the pig”.
Even though it’s really hard to eat right while traveling with the limited selection in airports, I don’t get as flustered as you do Vic. These companies make money because they serve a need or want that people have. If it weren’t for these kinds of corporations, a lot of folks would be out of work and you wouldn’t have a program to sell.
I love ice cream and I know it’s bad for me, so when I’m on your program I say no. When I give myself a day off, I eat ice cream! And when I do, I enjoy it more than ever because I know your method will help me with damage control.
Love your program Vic. Keep being a champion for health and nutrition. The more folks that try your approach, the more they will learn to make better choices and live a healthier life.
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Liked the article. More research has proved that eating every couple hours does not necessarily improve your metabolism and hence fat burning. It’s on pubmed and worth checking out. Thanks
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